Coin primed device for checking and supporting an article

ABSTRACT

A device whereby a coat carried on a coat hanger can be checked and secured after insertion of a coin and subsequently redeemed by the use of a removable key. The device includes a movable support member adapted to support the coat hanger in one position, and a plunger secured on the end of a chain which can be passed down the sleeve of a coat and then inserted in the device to simultaneously lock the support member against movement, eject the coin for collection and cause a latch to latch the plunger against withdrawal. The latch can subsequently be released by means of the key.

Umted States Patent 1191 [11] 3,917,047 Cawthorne et al. 5] Nov. 4, 197515 COIN PRIMED DEVICE FOR CHECKING 3,552,535 1/1971 Strang 194/74 ANDSUPPORTING AN ARTICLE [76] Inventors: Charles William Cawthorne, 1325Primary EXaminerRObert Reeves M i Ave North Burnaby; [an AssistantExaminerl-I. Grant Skaggs, Jr. d Abram, 34 5 w 5 Attorney, Agent, orFirmFetherstonhaugh & Co. Ave., Vancouver, both of British Columbia,Canada [57] ABSTRACT [22] Flled: 1973 A device whereby a coat carried ona coat hanger can [21] Appl. N0.: 415,235 be checked and secured afterinsertion of a coin and subsequently redeemed by the use of a removablekey. The device includes a movable support member [52] US. Cl; 194/74,194/49 adapted to Support the coat hanger in one position, [51] Int. Cl.G07F 5/00 d a lu e S c red the end ofa chain which can [58] Field ofSearch 194/74, 83, 92, 93, 72, g P g e f d h d 194/78 40 64 49 55 epasse own t e s eeve o a coat an t en lnserte v ln the device toslmultaneously lock the support member against movement, eject the coinfor collection [56] References cued and cause a latch to latch theplunger against with- UNITED STATES PATENTS drawal. The latch cansubsequently be released by 988,059 3/1911 Allen 194/55 means of thekey. 3,028,941 4/l962 McDonnell 3,197,008 7/1965 Moore 194/64 15 Claims,10 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 1 of 3 3,917,047

US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet2 0f3 3,917,047

US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,917,047

3 16 54 ii /g.. L7.

COIN PRIMED DEVICE FOR CHECKING AND SUPPORTING AN ARTICLE The inventionrelates to a coined primed device for checking and supporting an articleon a detachable carrier, and in particular to such a device for checkingand supporting a coat carried on a coat hanger.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a coatchecking device whereby a coat can be checked by the owner subsequent tothe insertion of a coin and secured against theft or inadvertentremoval. The coat can be redeemed by the use of a key which is retainedby the owner whilst the coat is checked on the device. The use of thedevice of the invention provides security for coats in restaurants andsimilar establishments without the necessity for employing an attendent.

The invention therefore provides a coin primed device for checking andsupporting an article on a detachable carrier, comprising means movablebetween support and release positions for a carrier, means for receivinga coin in a priming position, and a mechanism, operable when a coin ispresent in the priming position, to latch the supporting means in thesupport position, discharge the coin for collection and self latch inthe operated condition. The device is preferably releasable by the useof a key which can be removed from the device for retention by the ownerof the article when checked on the device.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which,

FIG. 1 is a front view of an assembly of devices according to theinvention for use in checking coats,

FIG. 2 is a front view of a device according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is an elevation on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is an elevation on the line 55 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is a plan view, partially broken away on the line 66 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation, partially in section, on the line 77 of FIG.3, and

FIG. 8 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 3, partially in section andshowing the device in an operating condition, and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are respectively an elevation and plan view correspondingto FIGS. 5 and 6 of a modified constructions.

Referring first to FIG. 1, this shows a box frame structure 1, which mayfor example be made of sheet metal. The upper portion of the structureis formed as a coin box in which a number of devices 2 according to theinvention are secured in side by side arrangement for supporting coathangers 3. For each device 2, one end of a chain 4 is secured to thecoin box, the free end of the chain carrying a plunger 5. In FIG. 1,coat hangers 3, chains 4 and plungers 5 are shown only for the first twodevices 2. It will be appreciated that such elements are provided foreach device. As each of the devices 2 is identical, the construction ofone only will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8.

Referring first to FIG. 2, the device 2 comprises a face plate 6 havinga coin slot 7 in the upper portion and a substantially T-shaped slot 8at the lower end. The T-shaped slot 8 is adapted to receive therethroughthe T-shaped head 9 of a rod 10 extending from coat hanger 3. The head 9and rod 10 replace the conventional wire hook normally present on coathangers. The face plate 6 has secured therein a cylinder lock 11 whichcan be rotated by means of a removable key 12. A circular aperture 13 isalso formed in the face plate to define the forward end of a cylinder 14(see FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 8). A piston 15 is movable within the cylinder14, with the head of the piston normally being substantially flush withthe face plate 6.

The cylinder 14 projects rearwardly from the face plate 6 and isprovided with a latching slot 16. A cranked latching plate 17 has oneend mounted for rotation with the cylinder 18 of the cylinder lock 1 l.The latching plate 17 is biased to rotate in a clockwise direction, asseen in FIG. 7, by a coil spring 42 connected as described below. Abovethe latching plate 17, the rear surface of the face plate 6 has anintegrally moulded stop 6a to prevent excessive movement of the latchingplate and overloading of the spring 42. The other end of the latchingplate is recessed as shown at 19 in FIG. 4, and movable during rotationof the cylinder lock through the latching slot 16. The plunger 5 (FIG.2) is provided with a cylindrical portion 20 which can be engaged in thecylinder 14 as far as a shoulder 21. The portion 20 is provided with anannular keeper recess 22 which is engageable in the recess 19 in thelatching plate 17 in a manner to be described below. The rear end of thecylinder 14 is provided with an inwardly directed flange 23, and a coilspring 24 is positioned in the cylinder between the flange 23 and theend of the piston 15 so as to normally biasthe piston forwardly in thecylinder. A spindle 25 projects rearwardly from the piston 15 so thatwhen the piston is depressed against the bias of the spring 24, thespindle 25 projects through the flange 23 and beyond the rear end of thecylinder. The piston 15 is also provided with a laterally projecting lug26 as best seen in FIG. 4. The purposes of the spindle 25 and lug 26will be described below.

At the rear of the face plate 6, the coin slot 7 opens into a coin chute27 which extends downwardly, as best shown in FIG. 3, to a coin primingposition in which a coin 28 is shown. In this position, the coin 28 isretained between a first coin stop 29 formed integrally with the faceplate 6 and a second coin stop 30 which is movable as described below.In the position shown however, the spacing between the coin stops 29 and30 is slightly less than the diameter of the coin 28 so that the coin isprevented from further downward movement. As best seen in FIG. 3, withthe coin 28 in the priming position, the lug 26 projecting from thepiston 15 lies on an extended diameter of the coin. A guide slot 27a isformed in the wall of the coin chute 27, so that upon movement of thepiston rearwardly in the cylinder, the lug 26 will move along the guideslot and bear upon the coin 28 to force it leftwardly as shown in FIG.3, thus causing corresponding movement of the coin stop 30.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 to 8, the coin stop 30 is formed integrally withan arm 31 dependent from a lower outer comer of a triangular plate 32.The plate 32 is pivoted at 33 to the outer side wall of the coin chute27. A lug 34 projecting laterally from the arm extends past the coinchute and has one end of a coil spring 35 connected thereto, the otherend of the coil spring being connected to a lug 36 provided on the outerside of the coin chute. The spring 35 thus normally pivots the plate 32about the pivot 33 so as to bias 3 the coin stop 30 inwardly against thecoin chute, as shown in FIG. 3. At the inner lower corner of the plate32 adjacent to the rear of the face plate 6, a latch retainer lug 37 isformed integrally therewith. With the plate 32 in the position shown inFIG. 3, the lug 37 retains the latch plate 17 against the bias of thelock spring and out of engagement with the latching slot 16.

Atthe rear end of the cylinder 14, a pair of trunnion blocks 38 extenddownwardly. A horizontal pivot pin 39 extending between the blocksengages through a lug 40 formed on a lever 41 so as to permit limitedrelative movement of the lever relative to the face plate 6. One end ofthe pivot pin 39 projects laterally beneath the coin chute 27 to deflectcoins falling from the chute rearwardly into the coin box. At the frontend, the lever 41 is provided with a vertical wall member 43 which bearsagainst the lower side of the cylinder 14 to prevent clockwise movementof the lower beyond a horizontal position. The coil spring 42 connectsthe wall member 43 to the latching plate 17 so as to simulta neouslyurge the wall 43 upwardly and cause clockwise rotation of the latchingplate as seen in FIG. 7. A hori zontal wall member 44 is also providedat the forward end of the lever 41 which projects towards but liesslightly clear of the face plate 6. The wall member 44 is recessed at440 at a mid position coincident with the T-shaped slot 8 in the faceplate 6 so as to permit the rod of a coat hanger to be movedtherethrough and located with the T-shaped head 9 thereof supported onthe wall 44.

To the rear of the lug 40, the lever 41 is formed with a post 45normally spaced rearwardly from lug 38 to leave a space 45atherebetween, see FIG. 5. When the lever 41 is pivoted in ananticlockwise direction against the bias of spring 42, as shown in FIG.5, the post 45 enters the space 4511 adjacent the trunnion blocks 38,and the wall member 44 moves downwardly and away from the face plate 6,so that a coat hanger supported thereon can be released.

At the rear end of the cylinder 14, an interrupter plate 46 is pivotedat 47. The interrupter plate 46 is balanced so as to normally lie in theposition shown in solid lines in FIG. 7. The plate 46 has two wings, andin the position shown the first wing 48 extends between the coin stops29 and 30 so as to intersect the priming position for the coin in thecoin chute 27. The outer edge of the wing 48 is formed as a camming edgewhich responds to the reception of a coin in the priming posi tion byrotating clockwise as shown in FIG. 7. The other wing 49 of the plate 46extends around the axis of the cylinder 14 as best seen in FIG. 7. Whenrotated clockwise as a result of the introduction of a coin into thecoin priming position, the wing 48 of the interrupter plate movesbetween the post 45 of the lever 41 and the trunnion blocks 38 whilstthe wing 49 is moved to a position where the end portion thereof liessubstantially upon a diameter of the cylinder 14. The purpose of thisarrangement will be described below.

The length of the arm 41 and the normal tension in the spring 42 are setin relation to the total weight of the coat hanger 3 such that the armwill support the coat hanger in an unladen condition, but such that whena coat is loaded thereon, the arm will tip as shown in broken lines inFIG. 3 to release the hanger.

In using the device above described, a coin is first introduced throughthe coin slot 7 into the coin chute 27. The coin falls to the coinpriming position 28 where it is retained between the coin stops 29 and30. As the coin falls, it cams the interrupter plate 46 so that it as- Isumes the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 7 with the wing 48 inthe space 45a interposed between the loaded hanger hung on the member 44would cause lever 41 to tilt so that the hanger would drop off.

The plunger 5 on the free end of the chain 4 is then passed down thesleeve of the coat and manually inserted through the aperture 13 intothe cylinder 14.

The piston 15 is consequently urged rearwardly against the bias ofspring 24 so that the spindle 25 projects through the rear end of thecylinder. In this position,

the spindle 25 lies in the anticlockwise path of rotation of the wing 49forming part of the interrupter plate 46.

The interrupter plate 46 is thus prevented from rotating anticlockwiseunder gravity while the coin is simultaneously removed from the coinpriming position as described below.

The rearward movement of the piston simultaneously causes the lug 26 tobear against the coin 28 and urge it leftwardly as shown in FIG. 3 sothat the stop30 is similarly moved. The triangular plate 32 isconsequently rocked rearwardly about the pivot 33 so that the retainerlug 37 disengages from the latch plate 17.

The coil spring 42 then biases the latch plate 17 through the latchingslot 16 of cylinder 14 so that the recess 19 engages with the annularkeeper recess 22 of the plunger 5. The keeper recess 22 is of an axialdimension somewhat greater than the thickness of the latching plate 17,so that upon release of the plunger, the spring 24 urges the piston andplunger slightly. forward. In consequence, the spacing between the stop30 and the lug 26 is increased to an amount greater than the diameter ofthe coin 28, which thusfalls onto the extended pivot pin 39 fordeflection into a coin collecting box (not forming part of theinvention). The interrupter plate 46 is then retained in the latchingposition i by the weight of the coat and spindle 25 engagingwith thewing 49 of the interrupter plate. The key 12, can now be removed fromthe cylinder lock 11 for retention by the owner of the coat.

When it is desired to redeem the coat, the key is inserted in the lock11 and rotated to raise the latch plate 17 clear of the cylinder. Thespring 24 drives the piston 15 forwardly and ejects the plunger 5,simultaneously withdrawing the spindle 25 into the cylinder. The inter.-rupter plate does not however immediately return to its originalposition as it is trapped between the post 45 and the trunnion blocks 38by the weight of the hanger and coat.

The raising of the latching plate 17 simultaneously permits thetriangular plate 32 to return to its original position under theinfluence of spring 35 so that the latching lug 37 again engages beneathand retains the latching plate 17 clear of the latching slot 16. Thecoin stop 30 is also returned to its original spacing from the coin stop29. As the rod 10 of the coat hangeris now lifted through the T-shapedslot 8 in the face plate 6, the spring 42 biases the lever 41 in aclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 5, and frees the interrupter plate46 so that it can return by gravity to its original position shown insolid lines in FIG. 7. The device is now ready to accept another coatchecked thereon as described above.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a modified construction in which the spring 42 isomitted. In order to provide the biasing force on the lever 41 forsupporting the coat hanger, the lever 41 is provided with a rearwardextension 50 having an integrally cast counterweight 51 at its end. Aclockwise biasing action is at the same time applied to the latchingplate 17 by a coil spring 53 engaged around the barrel 18 of the lock,one end of the spring (not shown) being secured to the barrel and theother end being formed as a hook 54 engaged with an edge of the latchingmember.

We claim:

1. A coin primed device for checking and supporting an article on adetachable carrier comprising:

a frame structure,

a carrier support member mounted for movement in said frame structurebetween support and release positions for a detachable carrier,

means biasing said carrier support member towards the support position,

a coin receiver defining a priming position for a coin of predetermineddiameter,

primary control means responsive to the reception of a coin ofpredetermined diameter in said priming position to prevent movement ofsaid carrier support member out of said support position, and

second control means for simultaneously moving a coin from the primingposition to a release position and for latching said carrier supportmember in the support position.

2. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carriermember comprises a lever journalled in said frame.

3. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said biasingmeans comprises a coil spring connected and tensioned between said leverand another portion of the device.

4. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lever isjoumalled at a position intermediate the ends thereof, and wherein saidbiasing means comprises a counterweight at one end of the lever wherebythe other end is biased into a support position for a detachablecarrier.

5. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said weight issufficient in value to support an unladen detachable carrier at saidother end of the le ver.

6. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said framestructure comprises a face plate towards the rear of which the leverextends in closely adjacent relation when in the support position so asto support a detachable carrier between the lever and the face plate.

7. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coin receivercomprises a coin chute and stop means associated with said coinchute forreceiving a coin of predetermined diameter, said primary control meanscomprising an interrupter member having a camming edge and mounted formovement in said frame structure between a first position in which thecamming edge intersects the priming position and a second position inwhich movement of the carrier support member from the support positionis prevented, said interrupter memberbeing normally biased towards firstposition and being movable therefrom to the 6 second position byengagement of the camming edge by a coin entering the priming position.

8. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said interruptermember comprises a pivoted plate, normally gravitationally biased intosaid first position.

9. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said framestructure comprises a face plate, through and down the rear face ofwhich said coin chute extends, said device further comprising a cylinderextending through and rearwardly from said face plate adjacent to saidcoin priming position in said coin chute, a piston movable in saidcylinder and having means for latching engagement with said interruptermember, a lug projecting laterally from said piston into the plane ofsaid priming position, means biasing said piston forwardly in saidcylinder, and means responsive to the rearward movement of said coinfrom the priming to the release position for latching the piston in arearward position in said cylinder, whereby rearward movement of thepiston in the cylinder simultaneously latches the interrupter member inthe second position, and shifts coin in the priming position to therelease position to cause the piston to be latched, the coin then beingreleased for collection.

10. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said pistonlatching means comprises a latch plate mounted on the rear of said faceplate for rotation into the path of movement of said piston, secondbiasing meansconnected between the frame structure and latch plate andbiasing said latch plate towards latching engagement, a latch retainermember movably mounted in said frame structure, third biasing meansconnected between said frame structure and said latch retainer memberand biasing said latch retainer member to normally retain said latchplate against the bias of said second biasing means out of latchingengagement, and means connected to said latch retainer member forretracting said latch retainer member from retaining engagement withsaid latch plate in response to the movement of a coin from the primingto the release position.

11. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said latchplate is mounted for rotation on the cylinder of a cylinder lockextending through and secured to the face plate so as to be rotatable bya key engageable with the lock from the front of the face plate.

12. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 9, and further comprising aplunger engageable in said cylinder for urging said piston rearwardly,said plunger being formed with keeper means for engagement by saidpiston latching means.

13. A coin primed device for checking and supporting a coat on adetachable coat hanger, comprising:

a frame structure including a face plate,

a support lever mounted for pivotal movement in said frame structurebetween support and release positions for a coat hanger, said leverbeing biased to support a coat hanger when unladen with a coat,

a coin chute extending through and down the rear face of said face plateand defininga priming position for a coin of predetennined diameter,

a cylinder extending through and rearwardly from said face plate andhaving a latching port formed in a wall thereof,

a latch plate mounted for rotation with the cylinder of a cylinder lockprojecting through said face plate and biased for engagement throughsaid latching 7 port,

a latch retainer member biased to normally retain said latch plate outof engagement through said latching port and responsive to the planarmovement of a coin from the priming position to a release position torelease said latch plate,

an interrupter plate having a camming edge and mounted for movement onsaid frame structure between a first position in which the camming edgeintersects the priming position and a second position in which themovement of the support member is prevented, the interrupter plate beinggravity biased towards said first position and movable to the secondposition by engagement of the camming edge by a coin entering thepriming position,

a piston movable in said cylinder and having means projecting rearwardlyfor latching engagement with the interrupter plate and a lug projectinglaterally from said piston into the plane of the priming positron,

means biasing said piston forwardly in said cylinder,

and a plunger engageable in said cylinder and formed with keeper meansadapted for engagement by said latch plate,

whereby, when a coin is inserted in said coin chute and received in thepriming position, said interrupter plate is moved to prevent pivotalmovement of the support member and thus permit a coat on a coat hangerto be supported thereon, and when said plunger is moved rearwardly tolatch the interrupter plate and simultaneously move the coin from thepriming position to the release position so as to release the latchplate through the latching port into latching engagement with the keepermeans on the plunger.

14. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said plunger issecured on one end of a chain, the other end of the chain being securedto the frame structure.

15. A coin primed latching device for a plunger adapted to be retainedby a complementary latch member, said device comprising a face plate,

a cylinder extending through and rearwardly of said face plate anddefining areception path for said plunger, said cylinder being formedwith a latching port,

a latch plate rotatably mounted at the rear of the face plate forengagement through said latch port with a plunger received in thecylinder,

biasing means connected between said device and said latch plate so asto bias the latchplate through said latching port into the receptionpath, said latch plate being mounted for rotation with the cylinder of acylinder lock extending through and secured to the face plate so as tobe rotatable against the bias of said biasing means by a key engageablefrom the front of the plate,

a latch retainer element mounted in said device for I movement in andout of a position in which the latch plate is engaged and retained in aretracted position clear of said path,

coin receiving means separate from said reception path and adapted toreceive a coin of predetermined diameter into a priming positiontherein,

means responsive to the introduction of a plunger into the receptionpath to move the coin from the priming position into a coin releaseposition, and

means connected to the latch retainer element and mounted for movementin the device so as to cause the latch retainer element to release. the.latch member into latching engagement with the plunger in response tothe movement of the coin into the coin release position;

said means responsive to the introduction of a plunger comprising apiston movable in the cylinder with a spring provided for biasing saidpiston in a direction opposite to the direction of introduction of theplug member and,

said piston comprising a lug projecting laterally into the plane which acoin in the actuating position assumes, whereby the introduction of aplunger into the cylinder causes the lug to simultaneously move the cointo the coin release position.

1. A coin primed device for checking and supporting an article on adetachable carrier comprising: a frame structure, a carrier supportmember mounted for movement in said frame structure between support andrelease positions for a detachable carrier, means biasing said carriersupport member towards the support position, a coin receiver defining apriming position for a coin of predetermined diameter, primary controlmeans responsive to the reception of a coin of predetermined diameter insaid priming position to prevent movement of said carrier support memberout of said support position, and second control means forsimultaneously moving a coin from the priming position to a releaseposition and for latching said carrier support member in the supportposition.
 2. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidcarrier member comprises a lever journalled in said frame.
 3. A coinprimed device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said biasing meanscomprises a coil spring connected and tensioned between said lever andanother portion of the device.
 4. A coin primed device as claimed inclaim 2 wherein said lever is journalled at a position intermediate theends thereof, and wherein said biasing means comprises a counterweightat one end of the lever whereby the other end is biased into a supportposition for a detachable carrier.
 5. A coin primed device as claimed inclaim 4, wherein said weight is sufficient in value to support anunladen detachable carrier at said other end of the lever.
 6. A coinprimed device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said frame structurecomprises a face plate towards the rear of which the lever extends inclosely adjacent relation when in the support position so as to supporta detachable carrier between the lever and the face plate.
 7. A coinprimed device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coin receiver comprisesa coin chute and stop means associated with said coin chute forreceiving a coin of predetermined diameter, said primary control meanscomprising an interrupter member having a camming edge and mounted formovement in said frame structure between a first position in which thecamming edge intersects the priming position and a second position inwhich movement of the carrier support member from the support positionis prevented, said interrupter member being normally biased towards saidfirst position and being movable therefrom to the second position byengagement of the camming edge by a coin entering the priming position.8. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said interruptermember comprises a pivoted plate, normally gravitationally biased intosaid first position.
 9. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 7,wherein said frame structure comprises a face plate, through and downthe rear face of which said coin chute extends, said device furthercomprising a cylinder extending through and rearwardly from said faceplate adjacent to said coin priming position in said coin chute, apiston movable in said cylinder and having means for latching engagementwith said interrupter member, a lug projecting laterally from saidpiston into the plane of said priming position, means biasing saidpiston forwardly in said cylinder, and means responsive to the rearwardmovement of said coin from the priming to the release position forlatching the piston in a rearward position in said cylinder, wherebyrearward movement of the piston in the cylinder simultaneously latchesthe interrupter member in the second position, and shifts coin in thepriming position to the release position to cause the piston to belatched, the coin then being released for collection.
 10. A coin primeddevice as claimed in claim 9, wherein said piston latching meanscomprises a latch plate mounted on the rear of said face plate forrotation into the path of movement of said piston, second biasing meansconnected between the frame structure and latch plate and biasing saidlatch plate towarDs latching engagement, a latch retainer member movablymounted in said frame structure, third biasing means connected betweensaid frame structure and said latch retainer member and biasing saidlatch retainer member to normally retain said latch plate against thebias of said second biasing means out of latching engagement, and meansconnected to said latch retainer member for retracting said latchretainer member from retaining engagement with said latch plate inresponse to the movement of a coin from the priming to the releaseposition.
 11. A coin primed device as claimed in claim 10, wherein saidlatch plate is mounted for rotation on the cylinder of a cylinder lockextending through and secured to the face plate so as to be rotatable bya key engageable with the lock from the front of the face plate.
 12. Acoin primed device as claimed in claim 9, and further comprising aplunger engageable in said cylinder for urging said piston rearwardly,said plunger being formed with keeper means for engagement by saidpiston latching means.
 13. A coin primed device for checking andsupporting a coat on a detachable coat hanger, comprising: a framestructure including a face plate, a support lever mounted for pivotalmovement in said frame structure between support and release positionsfor a coat hanger, said lever being biased to support a coat hanger whenunladen with a coat, a coin chute extending through and down the rearface of said face plate and defining a priming position for a coin ofpredetermined diameter, a cylinder extending through and rearwardly fromsaid face plate and having a latching port formed in a wall thereof, alatch plate mounted for rotation with the cylinder of a cylinder lockprojecting through said face plate and biased for engagement throughsaid latching port, a latch retainer member biased to normally retainsaid latch plate out of engagement through said latching port andresponsive to the planar movement of a coin from the priming position toa release position to release said latch plate, an interrupter platehaving a camming edge and mounted for movement on said frame structurebetween a first position in which the camming edge intersects thepriming position and a second position in which the movement of thesupport member is prevented, the interrupter plate being gravity biasedtowards said first position and movable to the second position byengagement of the camming edge by a coin entering the priming position,a piston movable in said cylinder and having means projecting rearwardlyfor latching engagement with the interrupter plate and a lug projectinglaterally from said piston into the plane of the priming position, meansbiasing said piston forwardly in said cylinder, and a plunger engageablein said cylinder and formed with keeper means adapted for engagement bysaid latch plate, whereby, when a coin is inserted in said coin chuteand received in the priming position, said interrupter plate is moved toprevent pivotal movement of the support member and thus permit a coat ona coat hanger to be supported thereon, and when said plunger is movedrearwardly to latch the interrupter plate and simultaneously move thecoin from the priming position to the release position so as to releasethe latch plate through the latching port into latching engagement withthe keeper means on the plunger.
 14. A coin primed device as claimed inclaim 13, wherein said plunger is secured on one end of a chain, theother end of the chain being secured to the frame structure.
 15. A coinprimed latching device for a plunger adapted to be retained by acomplementary latch member, said device comprising a face plate, acylinder extending through and rearwardly of said face plate anddefining a reception path for said plunger, said cylinder being formedwith a latching port, a latch plate rotatably mounted at the rear of theface plate for engagement tHrough said latch port with a plungerreceived in the cylinder, biasing means connected between said deviceand said latch plate so as to bias the latch plate through said latchingport into the reception path, said latch plate being mounted forrotation with the cylinder of a cylinder lock extending through andsecured to the face plate so as to be rotatable against the bias of saidbiasing means by a key engageable from the front of the plate, a latchretainer element mounted in said device for movement in and out of aposition in which the latch plate is engaged and retained in a retractedposition clear of said path, coin receiving means separate from saidreception path and adapted to receive a coin of predetermined diameterinto a priming position therein, means responsive to the introduction ofa plunger into the reception path to move the coin from the primingposition into a coin release position, and means connected to the latchretainer element and mounted for movement in the device so as to causethe latch retainer element to release the latch member into latchingengagement with the plunger in response to the movement of the coin intothe coin release position; said means responsive to the introduction ofa plunger comprising a piston movable in the cylinder with a springprovided for biasing said piston in a direction opposite to thedirection of introduction of the plug member and, said piston comprisinga lug projecting laterally into the plane which a coin in the actuatingposition assumes, whereby the introduction of a plunger into thecylinder causes the lug to simultaneously move the coin to the coinrelease position.